Rhubarb and Cod

Malted Snack Cake with Salted Vanilla Buttercream

April 8, 2023 1 Comment

Easter is here and we have little to no plans, which is exactly how I like it. Nice and low-key with a quiet dinner at home. But just because we’re keeping things chill doesn’t mean we can’t have a lavish dessert. Well, maybe “lavish” isn’t the word for this particular cake. Loud and obnoxiously joyous is a little more fitting. But before we get to the vibrant decor, let’s talk about the cake itself. This is a Malted Snack Cake with Salted Vanilla Buttercream. The cake is spiked with chocolate Ovaltine powder and topped with a simple vanilla American buttercream dyed in a shouty, springy array of colors. The cake is finished with Whopper Easter eggs and cape gooseberries for a little extra whimsy. Sound good? Good! Let’s make it!

Holiday, Pork, Sides

Vanilla Bourbon Pork Chops

April 6, 2023 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe

Welcome to Easter Dinner: small household edition. It doesn’t look bad, does it? I mean, this plate might lack the dramatic effect of a glistening ham dripping with pineapple rings or the majesty of a rosemary-trimmed leg of lamb with a side of golden fat roasted potatoes. But this meal boasts glossy Vanilla Bourbon Pork Chops paired with braised red cabbage accented with dried sour cherries and a small mountain of crème fraîche watercress mash. So yeah, this isn’t some impressive roast/centerpiece you can present with a flourish but I promise you this meal tastes every inch as good as one. So let’s make it!

Brunch, Eggs, Sandwiches & Wraps

Scallion Breakfast Sandwich with Pancetta

March 31, 2023 4 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Today’s Scallion Breakfast Sandwich is quite literally a handful. Well, a mouthful actually. If you’re looking for a brunch you can eat daintily, find yourself a fruit bowl because this sandwich ain’t it. This beast features a creamy scallion studded egg patty perched on top of sautéed kohlrabi greens and crisp pancetta. The egg is topped with gooey havarti and a creamy radish kohlrabi slaw. And yes, I did rather precariously perch everything on a multigrain English muffin. And no, I’m not the least bit sorry.

Pasta

Four Mushroom Saffron Pici

March 23, 2023 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe

The calendar may say spring but the weather is giving me undecided. I will admit that early spring is a step up from winter but, I mean, is it really all that hard to be better than winter? My point is this, with the weather still flip-flopping, patio season is still on hiatus. So I will not be posting sun-soaked patio snacks until you can actually make them and enjoy them with your friend without digging out your thermals. Instead, I have today’s Four Mushroom Saffron Pici. Thick rustic strands of hand-rolled pasta dressed with a simple four-mushroom sauce spiked with dry vermouth and finished with a sprinkling of shredded Parmigiano Reggiano. And yes, I did say “hand-rolled”. You’re looking at a cozy kitchen project designed for those chilly mixed precipitation spring days. So let’s get into it!